Category Archives: Biblical peacemaking in the church

There is a kind of frozen helplessness in our church conflict …

Posted on January 14, 2019 by Tara Barthel

(Dave is actually intervening in a conflicted church this week, so I thought I’d pitch-hit with some older posts from  my personal blog. Hope you enjoy! Blessings—tkb) There is so much wisdom in this brief book: The Heart of a Servant … Continue reading →

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Q. OK. We’re “reconciled.” I guess. But how could we ever trust one another again?

Posted on January 1, 2019 by Tara Barthel

Q. OK. We’re “reconciled.” I guess. But how could we ever trust one another again? A. Trust God. Love People. So how do Christians rebuild trust with one another in the aftermath of church conflict, even if problems have been … Continue reading →

Posted in Authentic Relationships in the Church, Biblical peacemaking in the church, Strengthening the Church, Uncategorized | Comments Off on Q. OK. We’re “reconciled.” I guess. But how could we ever trust one another again?

What Rules Govern Your Interactions with Others (Especially in Your Church Conflict)?

Posted on December 1, 2018 by David V. Edling

In the October 16, 2012, Wall Street Journal there was an article titled Big Explosions, Small Reasons.  The article reports recent research on “Why Social Rule Breakers Spark Angry Outbursts.”  I have written previously on this site about how secular … Continue reading →

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Two Elements of Redeeming Church Conflict: Intentionality and Contentment

Posted on November 15, 2018 by David V. Edling

Q. How can I maintain an “eternal perspective” given the harsh realities of this church conflict? A. It is one thing to give mental assent to the concept of living from an “eternal perspective,” and quite another to actually fit … Continue reading →

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Twenty Years Without an Apology

Posted on November 2, 2018 by Tara Barthel

I heard from a friend this week (after she had made an apology to a pastor and asked his forgiveness) that the pastor was gracious, forgiving, and VERY surprised/grateful. Why surprised? Why grateful? Because, you see, as he explained: He had served in … Continue reading →

Posted in Authentic Relationships in the Church, Biblical peacemaking in the church, Conflicts involving church leaders, Conflicts with our youth pastor, Strengthening the Church | Comments Off on Twenty Years Without an Apology

Are Your Church Relationships Otiose? (Vain. Ineffective. Of no use.)

Posted on April 18, 2018 by Dave Edling & Tara Barthel

Q. How can church-going Christians truly build the “ties that bind” and cultivate “the unity of the Spirit through the bonds of peace?” through intimate, safe, authentic relationships that will persevere through conflict? A. “Where a people prays, there is … Continue reading →

Posted in Authentic Relationships in the Church, Biblical peacemaking in the church, Disappointment in the church, HOPE in the midst of conflict | Comments Off on Are Your Church Relationships Otiose? (Vain. Ineffective. Of no use.)

There are people in the church who have been in the church so long they have forgotten they are hypocrites.

Posted on April 9, 2018 by David V. Edling

Tara often does Q&A’s at her events and one question she hears a lot is: How can I help a person see and confess their sin that has become a barrier to our relationship? In a previous blog, I responded … Continue reading →

Posted in Biblical peacemaking in the church, Confrontation, Spiritual Blindness, Uncategorized | Comments Off on There are people in the church who have been in the church so long they have forgotten they are hypocrites.

Destructive Church Conflict — The Antithesis to Our Faith

Posted on March 12, 2018 by David V. Edling

Destructive church conflict causes pain … to God. Of course, it causes pain to the people going through the church conflict too. But the pain of the antithesis to our faith is felt most by God. When his eternal children … Continue reading →

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“Helping entrenched people is what we do and who we are.” (Pastor Whipple of Kossuth Street Baptist Church)

Posted on February 19, 2018 by Tara Barthel

Dave and I were blessed to read an endorsement of “Redeeming Church Conflicts” by Pastor Whipple of Kossuth Street Baptist Church in Lafayette, Indiana. I especially appreciated Pastor Whipple’s encouragement for his church members to be prepared to redeem conflict (since it … Continue reading →

Posted in Authentic Relationships in the Church, Biblical peacemaking in the church, Change in the Church, Excerpts from "Redeeming Church Conflicts", Reviews of "Redeeming Church Conflicts" | Comments Off on “Helping entrenched people is what we do and who we are.” (Pastor Whipple of Kossuth Street Baptist Church)

How to Fire Your Pastor (Part 3 of 3)

Posted on February 7, 2018 by David V. Edling

Q. Sometimes, even in a mature church, a time comes when a servant-shepherd pastor must be let go. In this situation, how should the pastor and his family, and the other church leaders and members respond so that they can … Continue reading →

Posted in Biblical peacemaking in the church, Conflicts involving church leaders, Conflicts with our youth pastor, Excerpts from "Redeeming Church Conflicts", How to Fire Your Pastor | Comments Off on How to Fire Your Pastor (Part 3 of 3)